Key Highlights

• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 is lighter and more compact, weighing 201g compared to the Fold 8 Ultra’s 215g.
• Fold 8 Ultra offers a larger 8-inch inner display and a bigger 5,000mAh battery.
• The Ultra gets a more versatile camera setup with a 200MP primary sensor, 50MP ultra-wide and 3x telephoto camera.
• Both foldables offer the same flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy performance and Samsung’s latest AI features.
• At Rs 1,79,999, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is the more sensible premium flagship, while the Ultra is aimed at buyers who want the best Samsung foldable hardware.

Samsung’s latest foldable lineup brings two distinctly different approaches to the premium segment. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 focuses on making the foldable form factor more practical, compact and comfortable, while the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra pushes the hardware further with a larger inner display, upgraded cameras and a bigger battery.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 starts at Rs 1,79,999, while the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra costs Rs 1,99,999. That is a Rs 20,000 difference, which makes the decision less straightforward than simply choosing the more expensive model. The Ultra brings meaningful upgrades, but does it offer enough to justify the premium? And if you want a premium flagship that makes the most sense, which one should you buy?

Design

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is the more compact of the two, and that is also its biggest design advantage. At 123.9 x 81.9 x 9.7mm when folded and 201 grams, it feels noticeably easier to carry than most traditional foldables. Its new 4:3 aspect ratio gives it a passport-like appearance, while the Lavender finish makes it look stylish without being flashy. More importantly, it does not constantly remind you that you are carrying a foldable.

The Fold 8 Ultra takes a more traditional approach but remains surprisingly manageable. At 215 grams, it weighs 14 grams more than the Fold 8, while measuring just 8.9mm when folded and 4.1mm when unfolded. The titanium plate adds rigidity, and the refined hinge opens smoothly while keeping the crease less noticeable. It also gets Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 3 on the cover and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 at the rear.

Both phones offer premium construction and improved durability. The Fold 8 carries IPX8 water resistance and IP48 protection against dust particles, while the Ultra gets an IP48 rating. The Fold 8’s compact dimensions, however, make it the easier phone to live with every day.

Winner: Galaxy Z Fold 8

Display

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 comes with a 5.5-inch cover display and a 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X inner display. The main panel gets a 1848 x 2448 resolution, 120Hz adaptive refresh rate and up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness. The new 4:3 aspect ratio is the real highlight, as it gives apps, documents and websites more room while making the cover display considerably more practical.

The Fold 8 Ultra steps things up with a larger 6.5-inch FHD+ cover display and an 8-inch QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X inner display. Both panels support 120Hz adaptive refresh rates, while the cover screen reaches 3,000 nits. The larger inner screen is better suited to watching videos, multitasking and productivity, while the crease remains among the least distracting on a foldable.

However, bigger does not automatically mean better. The Fold 8’s 4:3 aspect ratio makes its inner screen feel more practical for everyday work, while the Ultra’s larger 8-inch panel is more immersive for entertainment and multitasking.

Winner: Tie

Performance and Software

Both phones are flagship performers. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, paired with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage in our review configuration. It handled multitasking, gaming and productivity effortlessly, with a Geekbench single-core score of 3,510, multi-core score of 9,456 and GPU score of 21,287.

The Fold 8 Ultra uses the same Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor and 12GB RAM, so there is no major performance advantage to choosing the Ultra. Both phones handle demanding games smoothly, while the Ultra’s larger screen gives gaming a more immersive feel. In terms of raw performance, neither phone has a meaningful advantage.

Samsung also gives both phones its latest One UI experience with Android 17 and a mature Galaxy AI ecosystem. The Fold 8’s software makes particularly good use of its 4:3 screen, with split-screen multitasking and floating windows. The Ultra offers the same productivity-focused approach, with Flex Mode allowing the phone to function almost like a mini laptop. Features such as Now Bar and Now Nudge further expand Samsung’s contextual software experience.

Winner: Galaxy Z Fold 8

Camera

This is where the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra establishes its biggest hardware advantage. The Fold 8 features a 50MP primary camera, 50MP ultra-wide and 10MP front camera. It captures excellent daylight images with strong dynamic range, vibrant colours and good detail. Night photography is also impressive, with controlled noise and realistic colours. However, zoom performance is not as strong as what you get from dedicated camera-focused flagships.

The Ultra retains the 200MP primary camera but upgrades the ultra-wide from 12MP to 50MP. It also adds a 10MP 3x telephoto camera, while the main sensor provides 2x optical-quality zoom and up to 30x digital zoom. The wider f/1.9 ultra-wide aperture also captures more light than the Fold 7’s previous sensor. This makes the Ultra’s camera system considerably more versatile.

In daylight, both phones produce detailed images with Samsung’s familiar punchy colour profile. The Ultra’s 50MP ultra-wide, however, retains significantly more detail when switching perspectives. Its dedicated telephoto camera also gives it an advantage for portraits and distant subjects. Samsung’s ProVisual Engine further improves low-light processing, while the Ultra supports 8K video recording at 30fps and Super Steady with Horizontal Lock.

Winner: Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra

Battery

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 packs a 4,800mAh battery with 45W wired, 20W wireless and reverse wireless charging. In testing, it comfortably lasted beyond a full day despite demanding use involving gaming, photography, multitasking and social media. Samsung also claims up to 26 hours of usage.

The Fold 8 Ultra gets a larger 5,000mAh battery and supports 45W charging. Samsung claims up to 27 hours of video playback, and the additional capacity makes a noticeable difference when using its larger inner display extensively. More importantly, Samsung has managed to add 600mAh compared to the Fold 8 without making the Ultra dramatically heavier.

Winner: Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra

Price and Value

This is ultimately where the Galaxy Z Fold 8 becomes the more interesting proposition.

At Rs 1,79,999, the Fold 8 already sits firmly in the luxury smartphone category. The Ultra costs another Rs 20,000, taking the price to Rs 1,99,999. That extra amount gets you a larger inner display, a bigger battery and a substantially more versatile camera system.

But the core experience remains remarkably similar. Both phones use the same flagship processor, offer 120Hz AMOLED displays, provide Samsung’s latest software and AI features, and deliver excellent foldable usability. The Fold 8 is also lighter and more compact, which arguably matters more for a device that you carry every day.

Verdict

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is undoubtedly the more capable phone on paper. Its 8-inch display is more immersive, the 5,000mAh battery offers additional endurance, and its 200MP primary camera paired with a 50MP ultra-wide and 3x telephoto makes it the better choice for photography. If money is no object and you want Samsung’s most complete foldable hardware, the Ultra is the obvious choice.

However, if you are looking for a premium flagship that makes the most sense, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is the better buy. At Rs 1,79,999, it delivers almost everything that makes the Ultra special while saving Rs 20,000. Its compact 201-gram body, innovative 4:3 form factor, excellent displays, flagship performance, strong cameras and seven years of software support make it easier to recommend.

The Ultra is for buyers who specifically want the best camera system, larger screen and bigger battery. For everyone else, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is the more sensible premium flagship. It does not feel like a compromised version of the Ultra. Instead, it feels like Samsung has deliberately prioritised practicality, and that makes it the better choice for most buyers.